Musical instrument.



No. 7I|,765. Patented Oct. 2|, |9042. F. J. HEPPE. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Applition filed Inn. 17, 1902.) (lo Indel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

l T u,

I N V E N T O R H off/vai J. #5P/Of,

0., wAswNsYoN n c No. 7II,765. Patented Oct.

F. J. HEPPE.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

I'Applicltion med Jan. 17, 1902.)

(No Model.)

JGI.

WITNE Mdm 2 Sheets-Shui 2.

INVENTOR:

FLORE/VCE .j HEP/D;

UNITED STATES A PATENT OFFICE.

FLORENCE .,T. HEPPE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 711,765, dated October 21, 1902.

Application iiled January 17, 1902. Serial No. 90,149. (No model.)

To all whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLORENCE J. IIEPPE, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.y

My invention relates to casings for musical instruments such as pianos, music-boxes, and the like; and the object of my invention is to provide such a casing with a sounding board or boards independent of the ordinary frame which supports the sounding device inclosed by the casing and which frame is removable from the casing.

As hereinafter described, my improvements are particularly applicable to an upright piano. Ordinarily such a piano comprises a sounding-board located behind the strings and removable with the string-frame. Said ordinary arrangement is such that the sympathetic vibrations of the sounding-board are projected from the back of the instrument, with the disadvantage that when the piano is placed with its back toward a wall the latter interferes with the projection of the vibrations from the sounding-board at the back of the piano and minimizes its eect.

My invention comprises the provision in an upright piano of a supplementary sounding board or boards located at the front of the instrument, with the result that regardless of the position of the piano the sympathetic vibration of said front sounding-board supplements and enhances the power and quality of the tones produced by the Vibration transmitted directly from the strings to the atmosphere.

Although my improvements may be advantageously employed in a casing for an npright piano, it is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to such embodiment of my invention.

My invention comprehends the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure I isa vertical sectional view of an upright piano embodying my improvements. Figs. II and III are perspective views of music-box casings embodying my invention. Figs. IV and Vare sectional views of a supplementary sounding-board,the respective sections being taken at right angles to each other.

Referring to Fig. I, l is the piano-casing, comprising the key-frame 2 for the keys or digitals 3, which latter are mounted upon the balance-rail 4 and form part of any suitable form of action comprising hammers to operate the piano-strings 5. Said strings are mounted u pon the metallic string-frame (5, provided with the wooden back supports 7, said string-frame and back supports being independent of the casing 1 and removable therefrom in the usual manner. Behind said strings 5 and stringframe 6 is the ordinary soundingboard 9, which is fixed with respect to said frame 6 and back support 7 and removable therewith. The front of said casing 1 is provided with the perforated panels 11 12, located, respectively, above and below the key-frame 2, and said casing is provided with the supplementary sounding-boards 14, mounted, respectively, behind the perforated panels 11 12 and extending between the panels and the strings 5 in opposition to the main soundingboard 9. The central portion of said sounding-boards 14 is free to vibrate in consonance with the vibrations of the strings 5; but the margins of said boards are secured in fixed relation with the casing l in the respective frames l5, attached thereto. The inner surfaces of said supplementary sounding-boards 14 are provided with suitable stiifening-ribs 17, which preferably taper from the center toward the margin of the board, as indicated in Fig. IV.

The arrangement above described is such that the sounding-boards 14 are caused to vibrate by the operation of the strings 5, and their vibrations are projected forwardly to the atmosphere at the front of the piano through the perforated panels 11 12, and thus augment the tones produced by the vibration of the strings.

As indicated in Fig. I, the supplementary soundingboards may be operatively connected by the posts 2O with the main sounding-board 9, said posts being located in any convenient position where they will not interfere with the arrangement of the strings 5.

In Fig. II I have shown my improvements applied to the music-box casing 25, which in IOO closes the ordinary sounding devices arranged to be operatedby rotation of the disk 26. The front of said casing 25 comprises the sounding-board 28, which is mounted in the frame 29, hinged to the bottom of the casing at 30 and provided with the fastening device 31 at its upper edge.

Fig. III shows the music-box casing 35, colnprising a plurality of sounding-boards 36, which are fixed in said casing independently of the removable frame which supports the sounding device 38 and upon respectively opposite sides thereof.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise arrangement and construction shown, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein Without departing from the essential features of my invention.

I claim- 1. In an upright piano, the combination with a casing comprising a key-frame; of a string-frame mounted in said casing in removable relation therewith; a main soundingboard supported solely by said string-frame independently of said casing; a supplementary sounding-board supported solely by said casing, above the key-frame and independently of said string-frame; and, a second supplementary sounding-board supported solely by said casing, below the key-frame and independently of said string-frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a piano, the combination with a casing; of a string-frame mounted in said casing in removable relation therewith; a main sounding board supported solely by said string-frame, independently of said casing; and, a supplementary sounding-board supported solely by said casing, independently of said string-frame, substantially as set forth.

3. In a piano, the combination with a casing comprisinga key-frame; of a string-frame mounted in said casing in removable relation therewith; a main sounding-board supported solely by said string-frame independently of said casing; a supplementary sounding-board supported solely by said casing, above said key-frame and independently of said stringframe, substantially as set forth.

'4. In a musical instrument, the combination with a casing; of a frame mounted in said casing in removable relation therewith;

a sounding device supported by said frame;

a perforated panel fixed in said casing; and, a sounding-board, supported solely by said casing, between said perforated panel and FLORENCE J. HEPPE.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, MILDRED BARNHART. 

